 | GEELONG
BASEBALL ASSOCIATION Victoria Australia |
28 June 2009
Geelong names squad for Under 18 Carnival
Geelong has named the following squad to contest the Under 18 Winter Championship to be held in Ballarat over the weekend of July 4 and 5:
Ben Atkins, Joey Atkins (Bellarine), Wade Balzer, Thomas Kerr-Chapman, Darcy Eales, Sam Gibbons, Hiroshi Narasaki, Griffen Weir (Deakin), Chris Porter (Bacchus Marsh), Tom Webb, Chris Webb, Preston Yochim, Harley Yochim (Werribee), Kurt Wilson (Saints) and Jordan Young (Newport). Head Coach is Larry Meager, with Assistant Coaches Phil Balzer and Ryan Balzer. Barry Mills is Executive Officer, Leanne Gibbons the scorer, Jamie Young bat boy and Gary Hicks the Team Umpire.
The GBA congratulates all members of the squad and wishes them well for the series.
28 June 2009
Saints offence delivers big-time
Currently vying with Werribee for fourth placing, East Belmont Saints produced one of its strongest offensive outings for the season to smash the Giants 14-1. With Brendan Twaddle and Marcel Ernstzen posting three RBIs apiece, Saints delivered the hits when it mattered to take full advantage of scoring opportunities.
With three hits, Harley Yochim was the stand-out in the Giants' total of seven as Brad Egan (five innings) and Dean Barker (two) shared mound duties to help wrap it up in seven for the Sainters, who move back to fourth, a game clear of Werribee. All senior scores. Senior Ladders. A Grade Match Reports.
27 June 2009
Wildcats maul Brewers: three clubs on equal pointsLara has assumed league leadership - on percentage - after its impressive 6-1 result over the Brewers this afternoon. With three clubs equal on ten wins and three losses, the Brewers hold second marginally ahead of Guild. Werribee hosts Saints in what should be a cracker of a game on Sunday - one that will give either side a break in fourth placing.
It was an errorless game of baseball - in perfect weather conditions at the snakepit - and Lara was irrepressible in leading the Brewers all day to finish with a comprehensive win. Cameron Forbes led the way for the Wildcats with a superb two-hitter over six, but his side had other stars in Ross Wilson (four hits and a couple of stunning plays at the hot corner) and Robin Longhurst (two hits and three RBIs) in an offence that out-hit the visitors 12 to 3.
Stuart Barnes threw seven innings in Guild's comfortable win over Bellarine, while the Bears used four of its own in an effort to quell the Lions' hitters led by Cameron Harper (home run) and a solid defence inspired by some telling plays from Dean Jones at second. Adam O'Keefe was a stand-out for the Bears with three hits.
Deakin rebounded from a couple of disappointing results with a massive 15-3 win over Bacchus Marsh. While both of those clubs might be out of contention for a finals berth, all eyes are on the clash at Presidents Park tomorrow - one that will prove telling in the context of the A Grade season. All senior scores. Senior Ladders. A Grade Match Reports.
24 June 2009
Mariners seek Senior Coach for 2009/10
The Committee of the Port Melbourne "Mariners" Baseball Club (Baseball Victoria) is looking to appoint an individual to lead the club into a new era. It has plans of a rewarding three-year tenure to assist with the development of the senior playing group and a longer term goal of playing Division 2.
The Mariners seek someone who can enhance the club and oversee the development of the junior group with the objective of leading them into senior baseball. Port Melbourne currently has four senior mens teams, three junior teams and a strong women's component,
A remuneration package will be discussed with the successful applicant. Forward all enquiries to the President Dale Bradley (dale.bradley@bidvest.com.au).
All expressions of interest will be treated in the strictest of confidentiality.
21 June 2009Wildcats merciless against tame Bears
Lara treated itself to a Sunday hitting feast against a Bears unit that had no answer to the barrage unleashed by a Wildcats offence that posted twenty-one hits on the way to a 24-2 drubbing.
It's been a productive eight days for the Wildcats, who have scored a staggering 54 runs for and only two against in three games played over that time. With three hits and six RBIs, Aaron Green (pictured) was among several stand-outs for the Wildcats.
All senior scores. Senior Ladders. A Grade Match Reports as available.
21 June 2009
Geelong runs second in Under 16 Championship
With three wins and two losses, Geelong has finished a creditable second behind Diamond Valley in Division One of the Under 16 Winter Championship. Round Six of the series was washed out, with final placings determined on standings after Round 5. Undefeated in five games, Diamond Valley was the clear winner in its group, while Ringwood was declared the Division Two winner on percentage. Scores and standings.
Newport's Alistair Lovelock and Jeremy Young were named in the Division One All-Star team. Nice work, guys.
Congratulations to the league winners and well done to the Geelong squad on a great effort!
20 June 2009
Guild blanks Saints: Giants move to fourth: Brewers too strong
Pat Moulton spun a stunning complete game as Guild Lions whitewashed Saints 4-0 at the stadium. But it was by no means a one-sided contest, as Brad Egan threw a terrific starting stint for Saints, with scores deadlocked at 0-0 after six.
In a game marred by errors, Werribee overcame Bacchus Marsh, but only after the Tigers issued a late challenge that saw them draw to within two runs of the Giants, who have moved to fourth - equal on wins with Saints but marginally ahead on percentage.
Ballarat Brewers used their two guns in Meddick and Irons against Deakin, who were quelled in offence as the visitors scored regularly for a 9-0 result.
Lara Wildcats play host to Bellarine in this week's Sunday game. All senior scores. Senior Ladders. A Grade Match Reports as available.
20 June 2009
Under 16 in contention after Day One
Geelong has finished Day win with two wins and a loss in Division One of the Under 16 Winter Championships being held in Wangaratta. After dropping its first game 2-7 to Diamond Valley (undefeated after three), the side rebounded with a 1-0 thriller over Dandenong before accounting for Sunraysia 14-6. Sunday morning's return clash against Diamond Valley will be all-important. Results and standings.
20 June 2009
Heartbreaking exit for Sun Devils
While the Geelong baseball community would have loved to see one of its favourite sons pitching in the Championship series of the College World Series, it's not going to happen - for this year at least, after the Sun Devils were eliminated in a 4-3 thriller to Texas Longhorns.
Another sensational game of college baseball saw scores deadlocked at 2-2 going into the last innings. The Sun Devils scrambled a run and appeared to have it in the bag, but an irrepressible Longhorns outfit came back with two of its own - on two solo home runs - to pinch the game at the death.
Quotes and analysis of the game. NCAA Match Report.
19 June 2009
Spence and Calhoun keep Devils in series
The Arizona Sun Devils remain alive in the College World Series after a stunning win over North Carolina University.
Josh Spence and Kole Calhoun were the heroes with remarkable individual performances for their team, who overcame a sluggish first few innings to demoralise the Tar Heels 12-5 after a tight first seven innings.
Coming off a three-day rest, Spence was given the start in an enormous vote of confidence by the Devils’ coaching staff. Spence threw a lot of early pitches and his defence was a little shaky as North Carolina took a 4-0 break after four. But rather than getting the hook, the Energiser from Down Under was sent out again in the fifth, retiring the hitters in order. He was back out again in the sixth, and then the seventh, to complete some of his best work against dangerous left-handed hitters.
Meantime, the fearsome Calhoun provided the offensive dynamite with a grand slam to tie it up in the bottom of five. At his next trip – in the seventh – a double to score another two and make it six RBIs for the game as the Devils exploded with an eight spot for an eight-run break.
While it may not have been his most dominating outing, the Spence game (eight strike-outs, seven hits over seven) was simply superb – even more so when we consider that he threw a total of 250 pitches over four days, leading commentators to run short of superlatives for the courage and resilience of the “Iron Man”. One expects – while Spence is still contemplating his playing future – that there will be some Angels officials nodding their heads in approbation of what they have seen of him since the MLB draft.
"I wouldn't say that I was tired," was how the laconic Spence assessed his condition going into the game on three day's break.
There’s still plenty of work to be done, though, and the Sun Devils will need to beat Texas twice to make it through to the Championship series. While it’s highly unlikely that Spence will be on the hill in either of those, if his teammates can do the right thing for the "The Mate”, then we should next see him in a Championship game next week. Let’s hope so. NCAA Report. Quotes.
"Spence stands tall for Sun Devils" (Kendall Rogers reports for Yahoo Sports). Images.
Sun Devils face "must win" after first loss
Arizona State sustained its first loss of the College World Series, going down 6-10 to Texas Longhorns after a marathon lasting over four hours.
In an extraordinary scoring spree – in front of a crowd of 25,000 - the Longhorns came from a six zip deficit into the fourth to blast six of their own, followed up by another four unanswered runs. NCAA Match Report.
The Sun Devils now face an elimination return game against North Carolina on Thursday night ( U.S. time), with Josh Spence surely a chance to get the start. If they get through that one, they’ll back up again on Friday night for a shot at making the championship series.
16 June 2009Now Showing: AJ the (short) movie
Even with so much happening in the baseball world, supporters of the game would have heard or read about the heroics of another Geelong (and Victorian) baseball identity - in this case Saints superstar Adrian AJ Kelly. Just to recap, mainly for the sake of those who were on another planet earlier this week, in a coma or simply sceptical about the veracity of the entire unlikely tale.......
AJ is holidaying in the United States. And he went, as you do, to a Major League game. This game between the New York Yankees and Mets. For six innings AJ was a figure of anonymity, a pimple on a sea of faces, a mere Aussie accent in the madding throng - until THE moment. The happening. The shot that was heard (and in this case captured) around the world. The realisation of every boy's dream.......
With his side down by two, the Yankees' Matsui blasts a three-run shot into the rightfield bleachers. Heroic stuff, yes. But not in the same ballpark (hmm) as the effort of one burly spectator - an interloper from Down Under - who catches the missile in flight. Yes, our own AJ! Pouched it he did, snaffled it, swallowed it. Forget about the homer by...who was it again? The story is AJ Kelly. And truth really IS stranger than fiction.
The Baseball Radio forum was of course on to the story in a flash (the forum is quick, but lightning fast with miracles). Moderator goblin has already secured sole print and interview rights to the AJ Story, arranged an autograph session and - 'tis rumoured - even a women's lingerie contract is in the pipeline pending AJ's return from the home of baseball (that's if the Mets don't sign him as fielding coach). Goblin has already prepared a preliminary promotional piece "AJ the (short) movie" that can be accessed via the Baseball Radio Forum. Enjoy.
15 June 2009
Sun Devils in tenth: Spence tosses seven
Four runs in the tenth lifted Arizona State to a 5-2 win over North Carolina in the opening round of the 2009 College World Series that started this morning (AET).
Geelong's Josh Spence (below) started for the Devils, throwing seven innings for eight hits and one run, with the scores deadlocked when the Angels draftee was relieved.
The Sun Devils' second game will be against the winner of the Texas and Southern Mississippi game later today. Report. Quotes on the game. Sun Devils website. Images and more detail posted here as available.
14 June 2009
Giants hit back against Bellarine: Wildcats crush Bacchus
Werribee rebounded from its Saturday disaster with a strong 6-1 over Bellarine at President's Park this afternoon.
Coming off a huge win over Saints yesterday, Lara Wildcats showed no mercy in trouncing a hapless Bacchus Marsh 16-0. The Wildcats were unstoppable against Tigers starter James Bailey, scoring nine in the top of three. Ben Hammer cleared the yard with a grand slam for the Wildcats, whose "reasonably successful weekend" produced two wins (from two) with a total of twenty-five runs for and none against. Today's win draws the Wildcats to equal second with Guild (both have a Win Ratio of .727 and an unofficial Run Ratio of .739).
All senior scores. Senior Ladders. A Grade Match Reports as available.
13 June 2009
Lara smashes Saints: Guild blanks Giants: Bears over Deakin: Brewers hold out Tigers
It may have been played in our first serious arctic blast of winter, but this Saturday's round produced a couple of results that would have left at least two clubs with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Lara whitewashed Saints 10-0 in seven innings in another ominous sign that the recent triple champion will be well among the post-season action. Having a stellar season, Cameron Forbes threw a complete game two-hitter for the Wildcats, who blasted fourteen hits off the reigning premier - eleven of them (and eight earned runs) off Brad Egan.
Werribee's chances of post-season action took a serious hit as Guild handed out a 15-0 pasting on fourteen hits in support of great pitching outings by Stuart Barnes and Pat Moulton.
Needing a win to restore some baseball confidence down Wallington way, the Bears downed Deakin 6-4, the latter having fallen away dramatically in recent times. At Mason's Lane, the home club had its chances, but conceded some crucial errors and a string of walks that enabled the Brewers to lead all day and take the match 6-2 in fading light.
In the last of the double-headers, Bacchus Marsh hosts Lara on Sunday in a game that threatens to turn ugly if the Wildcats continue their blistering offensive form. Werribee is at home to the Bears in a "must-win" for the Giants.
All senior scores. Senior Ladders. A Grade Match Reports as available.
Just missed Look at moiii, Trent, look at moiiiii... And who's this old fossil?
10 June 2009
Josh Spence drafted by Angels
Coming hot on the heels of his recent college heroics is the news that Geelong's Josh Spence has been drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Taken in the third round of the MLB Draft, Spence was overall pick 110. Sophie Smith reports for Geelong Advertiser.
The third-round drafting was the highest ever for an Australian player (we believe that John Edwards and Brendan Wise - both eighth-round picks - were formerly the highest).
This is a huge vote of confidence in a young man who is clearly in demand to embark on a professional career. We await his decision, and further news, with great interest.
8 June 2009
"Comeback Josh" takes Devils to the World Series
He's been down on game-time in recent weeks, but Josh Spence - one of Geelong's favourite baseball sons - has sure made up for lost chances by throwing a blinder that has clinched a spot for Arizona Sun Devils in next weekend's College World Series.
Barely recovered from a finger tendon injury and suffering a back twinge in recent days, Spence had had just two short stints back before throwing a stunning four-hit complete game today - surely his best outing of the year - in a regional decider against Clemson.
Starting next Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska, this will be the Sun Devils' third World Series appearance in five years. ESPN will be broadcasting the series live in Australia from 4 am Monday 15 June. ESPN Schedule.
Arizona Republic reports on the Spence phenomenon. Jeff Metcalfe feature: "Stranger than fiction comeback". Riveting reading, with some fascinating links. And if you are a coach or a player needing reassurance on what baseball is all about, tune into a truly inspiring Post-Match Press Conference. Josh is elsewhere interviewed by ESPN.
8 June 2009
Latrobe Valley creates senior history: Sunraysia wins Division Two
Latrobe Valley is 2009 champion after downing a valiant Diamond Valley 3-0 in this afternoon's Division One final of the Winter Championship. Not only was this Latrobe's first Division One title in the seventy year history of the winter series - it was also the first time that any team has won Division two and Division One in consecutive years. A remarkable effort!
The win was set up with a stellar pitching outing by Latrobe's Matt Prior, who threw the complete game for two hits. Prior's contribution with the bat was telling, as well, with both sides struggling for offensive production in difficult playing conditions that saw a couple of rain breaks early on. Prior's triple plated his side's second run in the first innings, a lead that Diamond Valley was unable to peg back despite the solid efforts on the hill by Hayden Gardner and Shannon Williams.
Latrobe Valley lost its morning game - to Dandenong - but had already qualified for the final. Diamond Valley made the play-off by virtue of its 3-1 morning win over Geelong, who finished fourth in Division One with two wins and four losses.
Sunraysia overpowered North-East 7-2 in the Division Two final despite dropping its morning game to Ballarat. Although losing to Bendigo in the morning, North-East had already qualified for the final, which featured the two stand-out teams of their division.
Congratulations to the winners. Well done to all participants on a competitive and high-standard weekend of winter baseball. The senior All-Star team has been announced. Congratulations to all selected.
Results, standings and images. Geelong team statistics. Geelong Advertiser report.
8 June 2009
GBA names its Under 16 squad
Geelong Baseball Association has named the following squad to contest the Under 16 Winter Championship to be held at Wangaratta over the weekend of 20/21 June. Congratulations and best wishes to all!
Matthew Belfrage (Deakin), Brad Calway, Andrew Christou, Cameron McNish (all Werribee), Andrew Medew, Jarrod Durston, Cameron Harty, Liam Jakubzik (all Guild), Tyson Foreman, Ayden Ham, Alistair Lovelock, Sean Pengelly, Aaron Wallis-Taylor and Jeremy Young (all Newport). Craig Durston and Peter McNish are coaches, with Brendan Belfrage the Pitching Coach. Gavin Young is Executive Officer and Kaylene Pengelly the scorer.
7 June 2009
Waverley wins Australian Little League Championship
Waverley Wildcats are the Australian Little League baseball champions after going through undefeated in the national series held in Surfer's Paradise over the past four days. Congratulations to SOD, his staff, players and families on this fantastic achievement. Our recognition, too, to the Ringwood team - another Victorian qualifier - that acquitted itself particularly well during the series to finish ninth.
Waverley will represent Australia in the Asia-Pacific Little League Championship to be held in Taiwan in July.
Full coverage, highlights and reports are provided on the following ABF link.
7 June 2009
Division One open heading to Day Three
With one preliminary game to be played (on Monday), the only certainty is that Latrobe Valley will be contesting the Division One final. With three wins, a draw and a loss, it cannot be dislodged from the top two. If it loses to Dandenong, those two teams will finish on seven points and set up an afternoon showdown in the final. Whatever the outcome, this has been a fantastic series for the Valley, who came up from Division Two last year and were in fact tipped by some pundits to give the title a real shake.
But there are other interesting scenarios. If Diamond Valley beats Geelong and Latrobe downs Dandenong, Diamond Valley will go through to the final. If Geelong beats Diamond Valley and Latrobe beats Dandenong in a less likely double, Geelong will play Latrobe Valley in the final. If Dandenong and Geelong both win, Diamond Valley will be eliminated and it will revert to run percentage to decide which meets Latrobe Valley (given that Dandy and Geelong are equal on "head-to-head).
Confusing? Well, maybe. But we can be assured of some frenetic action and tough competition on the morrow. That can only be good for the contingent of winter baseball stalwarts who have supported their teams throughout the weekend. And isn't it a great thing for those long-time supporters of the game to catch up, share a few selective memories and reflect upon how good we - and others - used to be?
In Division Two, the equation is simple. With four wins each, North-East and Sunraysia have been the stand-out teams and they will meet in the afternoon final. But they have first to negotiate morning games against Ballarat and Bendigo, who will be keen to finish on a positive note after disappointing series, for them, that has so far yielded just one win for each - against the other.
Some great games today, including a couple of one-run results and something of a "form reversal" that saw Ballarat smack Bendigo 13-1. But the highlight was arguably the Divvy Two contest between North-East and Sunraysia, with the former posting a 16-5 win. A thrashing, you might conclude. A one-sided mismatch? An old-fashioned shellacking? Noooooo....far from it. With both sides playing desperate baseball, North-East took a 6-5 lead into the top of what turned into a remarkable last innings.....
With two out, North-East strung together a string of early hits to score one and leave the bases loaded for Michael Pollard - one of the North-East's several left-handed hitters. On the first pitch he saw, ice-man Pollard smacked a three-run double to spark a scoring spree that yielded another six to make it 16-5 before Sunraysia could get out of the innings. One of those unexpected, irrepressible runs that can happen in our wonderful game - at any level.
But tomorrow is another day, and the Sunraysia boys will be seeking atonement.
Monday morning games start at 10.00 AM. Both finals start at 1.00 PM. Results, standings and images.
6 June 2009
Dandy and Sunraysia head Day One table
Although appearing undermanned - on previous years - coming into the series, Dandenong leads the Division One table after Day One of the Winter Carnival. With two wins and a loss, the Dandy boys are a point ahead of Latrobe Valley and reigning title-holder Diamond Valley - both with a win and a draw. Geelong (last year's runner-up) has one win - over Latrobe.
Sunraysia is undefeated in Division Two with a big win over Bendigo, a 5-4 result over North-East and a three zip thriller over Ballarat, who remain winless after three close games. North-East has two wins and Bendigo one.
Among many highlights of Day One were the following:
- A 2-2 draw between Diamond Valley and the promoted Latrobe Valley, who were led from the hill by fifty-something year old evergreen Duane Baker, whose offspeed offerings and guile kept the city slickers hitters off balance.
- A gutsy come-from-behind effort by North-East, who nailed Ballarat in the last innings.
- A pitcher-dominated contest that saw Geelong down Latrobe 1-0 in nine innings. Stuart Barnes was superb for Geelong over the distance, while Jude Power (pictured hitting below) was strong for the Valley in a game effectively decided in a frenetic first innings that saw Geelong score one - the only run - and turn a triple play to thwart the Valley when they threatened early.
- The
preponderance of younger players suiting up for their associations
(well, that's the way it appears - although to we provincial dinosaurs,
just about anyone seems "younger"!).
2 June 2009
A sad loss for one of our own
The Geelong baseball community is saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Leanne Gibbons' mother, Mrs Janette Armstrong, earlier today.
The GBA Board extends its sincere sympathy to Leanne and family at this difficult time.
2 June 2009
New senior structure for summer baseball
Baseball Victoria this week announced a new structure for summer baseball that will see seniors playing more games, with a degree of "inventiveness" to the promotion/relegation system. While full details are still to be disclosed, the following is clear.
Division One will be expanded to twelve clubs (the 10 current Division One clubs are joined by Cheltenham and Upwey - first and second placegetters in last season's Division 2). Three full rounds - 33 games - will be scheduled, with clubs playing twice a week (and thereby, one imagines, training less often).
Division Two will have between 12 and 14 clubs, probably twelve (the lower 8 from last year's Division 2 will be joined by an expected 4-6 teams eligible and willing to come up from the old Division Three). Division Two will play at least 22 games, with the top finishing club earning automatic promotion without a "traditional" finals series.
The new structure has significant implications. It will certainly put the pressure on Division One and Two clubs to strengthen their playing lists while providing opportunities for younger, developing players to gain game time at the highest levels.
While summer players in the Geelong region can expect more information to be forwarded through their clubs - over time - the Baseball Forum has an ongoing discussion on the issues and some BV communications that might be of interest. 2009/10 Competition Structure (Word). Proposed dates for the 2009/10 season.
1 June 2009
GBA names Winter Carnival squad
Looking to improve upon its close second in 2008, the GBA has named the folowing youthful squad for the Queen's Birthday Weekend series to be held at Geelong Baseball Centre:
Mick Vanston, Chris Porter (Bacchus Marsh), Ben Atkins, Joey Atkins (Bellarine), Dean Barker, Marcel Ernstzen (Saints), Sean Talbot, Wade Balzer, Darcy Eales, Jacob Harper (Deakin), Jordan Young (Newport), Darryl George (Werribee), Stuart Barnes, Lee Harty, Cameron Lyons (Guild). Roland Stott (Lara) is Manager and Leanne Gibbons Scorer.
Best wishes to all concerned for a successful series.
The GBA will be covering the Winter Carnival online. Check back later in the week for schedule and all rosters.
